20 | Living with Diabetes
doctors
A pediatric endocrinologist is a doctor who
specializes in the diagnosis and treatment
of children who have diseases of the
endocrine system (such as diabetes and
growth disorders). In some areas, general
pediatricians and family doctors may also
treat kids who have diabetes and manage
their health care needs.
It’s important to recognize that seeing a
specialist like a pediatric endocrinologist
doesn’t replace the need for your child
to continue to receive health care from a
certifi ed diabetes dietitians
pediatrician or family doctor. educators (CDEs)
Registered dietitians are experts in nutrition
You and your child should feel comfortable
and meal planning. They know how food
with the doctors you choose because your
Certifi ed diabetes educators (CDEs) are
affects the body, including blood sugar
child’s diabetes management plan is based
health professionals who help people
levels. Just as your child grows and
on the doctor’s prescribed treatment. Ask
manage their diabetes. CDEs have had
develops, so must his or her meal plan. You
plenty of questions and make sure you
special training to teach parents and kids.
can discuss this with the dietitian.
understand the answers.
CDEs can:
Expect the dietitian to track your child’s
Doctors will ask detailed questions about
growth and recommend the appropriate
• Explain what diabetes is and how it
how your child is feeling and will perform
amount of calories required each day.
affects the body
physical exams. They will also teach
The dietitian can also: • Teach you and your child how to give
you and your child about diabetes and
incorporate the recommendations of all the
• Make adjustments to meal plans based
insulin injections or use an insulin pump
team members into a complete diabetes
on sports participation, holidays, special • Explain how to treat high and low blood
management plan.
events and other activities sugar levels
• Provide snack and recipe ideas • Show you how to adjust medicines for
The doctor will lead the other members of the
• Teach you and your child how to make
exercise and sick days
diabetes team in developing an individualized
healthy food choices • Demonstrate how to test blood sugar
plan for managing your child’s diabetes. In
• Help you and your child learn
levels, work the blood glucose meter,
addition to monitoring your child for diabetic
carbohydrate counting and meal
and test the accuracy of blood sugar
complications, the doctor will also make
planning techniques
monitoring equipment used in the home
changes to insulin schedules, and write
• Teach you to read food labels and
• Review diabetes management goals with
prescriptions for medicines and referrals to
develop strategies for determining the
you and your child
other specialists, if needed.
carbohydrate content of foods when food • Discuss any challenges you and your child
labels aren’t available may be facing
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36